~~~Mar~~~

"I need more…"

"...low on Mana…"

"...move more that way!"

"...I'm trying to…"

Voices intruded into the peaceful darkness, and they brought pain with them. So much pain. Mar groaned, unable to muster the breath to scream, then a soothing warmth washed over her and she fell back into the dark.

Mar was sure she was dead when she opened her eyes into pitch blackness. Only... it smelled like dirt mixed with… things, and it wasn't pure dark. She sat up slowly, cautiously, but all she could see was the blindingly bright symbol...

Her whole body felt raw. How did I survive? Her body also felt strangely cold… her gingerly probing hands froze, and she reactivated her invisibility. Why am I naked?!

She ran a hand over her head and the other strange sensation turned out to be that her hair was also almost completely gone. Though she felt a faint fuzz.

Mar almost screamed again when her hand brushed against warm flesh that was not her own. Where is my damn light? She was breathing hard, on the edge of panic...

Finally tearing her eyes away from the glowing rune, Mar realized it gave off just enough light that she could see the person lying next to her. Her heart sank.

Mom…

Oozing holes covered almost every inch of her bare flesh... Mar reached out a trembling hand and touched her mother's neck. Tears of relief slid down her face when she felt the pulse pounding away under her fingers. She's okay. She's going to be okay! I just need to find some…

Her eyes slid from her mother and back to the rune. It was the fancy one Lee had just made... for Bradley. She stood up and immediately knocked her head on the low ceiling. Son of a...

Mar half crawled, half scrambled over... and finally saw that it was indeed Bradley. Then she blushed furiously and looked away. He also wasn't wearing anything.

She looked at the stone all around them. Bradley must have dragged them underground to escape from the acid. Mar couldn't see any openings and the space they were in wasn't very big… she tried to keep her breathing calm even as she started wondering how long they had been in here and how much oxygen people still needed.

Regardless, they needed to get out and find some plants so her mother could heal herself. She needed to wake up Bradley first... Mar was trying not to look at him and reaching out to nudge him awake when…

You have been conscripted into Tiny Dungeon: [Skirmish at the Fence]

Invaders are coming! Join with your allies and prepare your defenses! Fight!

"Ahh!" Bradley bolted upright, screaming, and Mar instinctively clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Quiet!" she hissed, and his eyes focused on her.

"Mar? You're okay!" He smiled and his eyes slid down from her face before bulging wide.

Mar abruptly realized that her invisibility had broken when she touched him and she leapt away with a shriek, vanishing again.

"Sorry, Mar." Bradley said, hiding himself with one hand and holding the staff away from her with the other. The glowing rune illuminated her mother more brightly, and he gasped. "Is she…"

"She's alive," Mar said, forgetting her own embarrassment at the reminder of what was at stake. "But we need to get her to some plants… and I don't see any air holes in here."

"Sorry, I ran out of mana... and fell asleep." Bradley closed his eyes and lifted the staff. A moment later, the ceiling rose while one side of the space expanded and lengthened away from them, sloping upwards slightly. "I can't really tell where plants are, but I think there might be some this way."

"Okay…" Mar said quietly from where she was crouched over her mom. She couldn't see much, but there was a click of breaking stone and the ground moved beneath her. They slid sideways, and slightly upward. "What about the message... the dungeon?"

Bradley shivered in the dim light and shook his head. "I... don't know. It says tiny… so hopefully not like the last time..."

"Where are we?" Mar asked.

"It was a mad dash to get out from under the rain and find plants that hadn't already been dissolved. I'm not even sure which way I went…"

"It said fence, so maybe the border fence?"

"Could be… that's not too bad," Bradley said after a moment. "We weren't that far from it before."

"What about the others?" Mar said quietly.

"I think they were still inside the cave when your mom dove outside after you. They should be okay..."

"You... you saved her," Mar whispered. "Th... thank you..."

Bradley just ducked his head and mumbled something while they kept moving. Then a glowing blue wall appeared out of nowhere, and Bradley rested a hand against it. "That's new…"

"What is it?" Mar asked, heart pounding at the sudden surprise and only then noticing that while it was bright, it didn't actually light up the chamber.

"The edge," Bradley said and waved his hand, expanding the room and revealing even more of the blue wall. "See for yourself."

Mar stepped nervously around him and touched the wall.

[Dungeon Perimeter] No Dungeon Entities may cross until All Invaders or Defenders are Defeated.

"So we're trapped."

Bradley nodded. "Seems that way."

"Can you get us to the surface?" Mar pointed uselessly at her mother. "We should surround her with as many plants as possible… Or can you bring the plants down here?"

"Yeah… but give me a sec." The ground under his butt lifted until he rested a hand against the ceiling of the tunnel. He stayed that way for a while until finally shaking his head. "I can't detect anything. At least nothing moving on the ground…"

The rock above parted a moment later, and daylight shone down through a tiny crack. The crack widened, and he started rising higher, towards the opening.

"Wait!" Mar hissed. "Let me look."

He stopped for a moment and then shuffled to the side while trying to stay facing away from her. "Good idea."

Daylight shone in on him as he moved, illuminating everything in terrible relief. Mar could only stare in horror at the holes and burns covering his back and legs... then she turned to her mother and started uncontrollably weeping at what she saw, now all too clearly.

Not only was she far more wounded than Bradley, but even her undamaged skin looked withered... shrunken.

Bradley touched her back sometime later. "Mar? It's okay. It's not as bad as it looks..."

Mar shuddered with a last sob and then forced herself to sit up and lean back from her mom. Bradley was standing over her. "It hurts," he said. "But she's going to be okay!"

Yes, her mom would be okay. Her pulse was strong and her breathing sounded fine. They'd find some plants. And they were still in a dungeon... No, that didn't matter. She would do whatever needed to be done. She'd kill whatever monsters needed to die.

Mar wiped her eyes and looked up at Bradley. "I'll..." He was meeting her gaze with a strange intensity and his face was turning red. He was meeting... her... gaze...

She managed to disappear an instant before her face burst into flames, then she hyperventilated for a few moments longer before standing up. "I'll go... see what's out there."

"Be careful," Bradley said, and she glanced at him. He was wearing a stone… skirt?

That can't be comfortable.

It left his upper body bare, and she noticed the acid hadn't burned his chest like it did his back… Mar also noticed that he was looking very chiseled. She blushed again. It was no big deal… Lots of people looked like that nowadays, between the daily workouts and magic rocks that make them all more fit.

Not that she was sneaking around and spying on people. She wasn't a pervert. She just sometimes, accidentally, saw things she shouldn't…

She shook her head. This was stupid. None of this mattered right now. Not when her mother might be dying... again... "Can you make me armor?" Mar asked while pointing at his rocky clothes, forgetting that he couldn't see her.

He must have understood, though, because he nodded, his exposed skin still pink. "I could, but it would really hurt to wear… my earth shape skill lets it move with me, somewhat."

"Oh…"

"But…" He gestured to her mother and a thin shell of rock grew up over her motionless body in an arch. It didn't touch her, but provided some modesty. "I can do that at least. Sorry I didn't do that... earlier."

Mar went to the opening, and Bradley added a ladder into the wall that she could use to climb higher. She stuck her head out and saw… nothing. Well, not nothing, but nothing that stood out. Just desert grass and shrubbery, much more of it than usual and much more vibrant, but that was normal now. She climbed back down and relayed her findings, or lack thereof. "Can you get her up into the grass? Maybe build some walls first?"

A short while later Bradley had her mother laying among the prickly grasses, with another layer of earth and more flora overhead. A perfect hiding place. Unfortunately, she couldn't tell if the plants were doing much of anything to help. Her mother needed to wake up to use her skill...

No, they needed to get to another healer... which meant they needed to get out of this dungeon.

Her hands went to her waist and her daggers… and met only bare skin. Shit. Mar knew the gear should have held up against the acid... the bracer had. Likely the straps that failed...

"Bradley, can you make me some stone knives?" It wouldn't be the same without runes, but had to be better than her fists...

"I… Yeah, I can. But we should wait for your mom to wake up before…"

"She needs a healer! We can't…" Mar closed her mouth with an effort of will. "I'm…"

Bradley held out two knife shaped stones. "This is as big as I can make them and not worry about them breaking, but they won't be nearly as good as what you had. Not without Lee's enchants."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"I know." She took the knives and her invisibility flickered again. Bradley glanced away. "Be careful out there, Mar. Your mom… She didn't even hesitate, she just dove after you."

Mar swallowed a lump in her throat.

"I don't know many people who would do that." He said and then whispered, almost under his breath. "My mom wouldn't have…"

"You must have gone out right after her," Mar said softly.

"I won't be afraid anymore," Bradley stated with conviction as he looked towards her, but not at her. His hand was shaking slightly, but she didn't mention it.

"Thank you… for saving her, us, and I will be careful," Mar said. "I'm going to try and see what we're dealing with and then maybe you could make a cave or pit trap and we can just lure the monsters into it and either bury them or crush them."

"That… is not a bad idea," Bradley mused. "I'll get started on it while you scout. If you come back with something chasing you and see a big cave mouth, run inside."

"I'll do that, but…"

"I'll stay right here with her." Bradley said. "Don't rush too much. I'll need time to create something, and I don't think your mom is in immediate danger. Her heartbeat is strong, and she isn't actively bleeding. I think she is just drained from the healing."

Mar didn't share his optimism. It's my fault. If I hadn't gone ahead like that...

"I'll be slow." Mar said and started crawling out of the small hole he opened in their cover. She stood up outside and the first thing she did was check the sky. Nothing. The sky was clear blue with a few fluffy white clouds, and she flexed her toes in the sun-warmed dirt.

It felt extremely wrong to be walking about in such a state, and if it wasn't for her invisibility, Mar didn't think she could do it. She really didn't want to have to fight like this either… She would need to be slow and very careful.

Mar activated Don't Hear Me. Then channeled additional mana into it, as well as Don't Look At Me. She should have been doing that earlier, since it helped keep her invisibility going even if she touched someone...

With both skills active and channeled, her mana began to ever so slowly decline. It didn't become an issue because she found the monsters in only a few minutes.

They were hiding under a short desert tree that Mar didn't know what it was called, and they were in a circle with eyes in every direction. They looked almost exactly like dogs… Dobermans, to be precise. Tiny Dobermans, standing upright at maybe three feet, and wearing clothes…

There were six of them Mar could see until she got a glimpse into the middle of the group and spotted three more. They looked like puppies… Why would the monsters have babies with them?

Mar didn't know what to make of the situation and she crouched unmoving as she studied the enemy. They all wore clothes, but no armor that she could tell. Even the little ones had clothes. The 'adults' all held a small knife in one hand. Or was it a paw? A few also held a small glowing bottle in the other hand.

Mar didn't make the connection with dogs and smell until one of them suddenly started sniffing loudly and growling to the others. Damn! She took slow and careful steps to the side as she tried to feel which way the wind was blowing.

She had only gone a few steps when one dog stepped forward from the others and barked. "Hello? Can you understand me?"

Mar froze, dumbfounded. They can talk!? In English!?

"Are you Sapient? We do not wish to fight!" It barked some more and Mar realized that there was no way its mouth was making the English words. It must be magic. But why? Is it a trick to lure me out? And why would they come here if not to fight? She was sure it had to be a trick and kept moving, though now she wanted to get back to Bradley and get his opinion.

Another of them barked and yipped, this time with no English overlay. The first one barked again. "We don't need to be enemies!" It slowly and obviously set down its knife and the glowing bottle on the ground. It lifted its now empty hands and spread them wide. "We have potions that can be traded, and…" It glanced back at the others. "We are willing to discuss terms for our surrender if necessary..."

Mar was frozen in place, trying to breathe as quietly as possible. Those glowing bottles… potions? That could very well be a thing now. Healing potions. If I can get one for her…

She decided to risk talking to them. Partially because it looked like while they had smelled her, they still didn't know where she was, and also because of an interesting effect her skill had.

"Do you have healing potions?" Her voice came from random directions all around her as she spoke, making it sound like she was in multiple places at once or moving rapidly between words. It also drank her mana like crazy...

"We do!" The dog barked while the whole group stirred warily. "Do you require healing?"

Shit! Did I just tip them off that we have wounded?

The creature reached into a bag and pulled out another glowing bottle, this one a deep red. "Here it is."

How do I know that is a healing potion? she thought. "How do I know that is what you say?"

The dog's head was turning and tilting as her words echoed from multiple directions. "I will demonstrate." It barked and slowly picked up its knife. It held up a paw and drew a red line down the pale, hairless flesh of its palm with the blade.

Then it tossed the blade away and pulled out the potion again. "Very good quality!" It popped a cork and poured a few drops of the potion over its hand. "Can be used as a topical or ingested for more serious injuries." It tilted its head back and poured almost half of the liquid down its throat. "First ones free." It recorked the bottle and held it up along with the now healed hand.

Mar thought about it for a moment. It could still be a trick… but it seemed like a rather convoluted plot… "Toss it over here!" she finally called, and let her invisibility drop for a second. As soon as the creature saw her, she was once again invisible and took a step to the side, just in case.

It threw the bottle, and Mar caught it nervously, half expecting it to explode. It didn't, and it also vanished when she caught it with a flicker.

"Don't move," she told the creature.

"Of course," it said, sounding cheerful.

That just made her more nervous and Mar moved further away and behind another thick bush. She drew a stone knife across her arm while watching them and wincing. Then she ducked down and dropped her invisibility to see what happened as she dripped the potion onto her fresh wound. It felt warm and not unpleasant as the liquid seemed to vanish into the wound, leaving smooth unbroken flesh. It works!

Mar disappeared again and stood up. The monsters were still in place. "Wait here. If this works as claimed, then we will discuss terms," Mar said.

"As you wish." The dog-like creature bowed slightly towards her and backed up closer to the rest of its... pack?

Mar almost sprinted back, only going slow enough to watch her step, though her feet had been feeling way more resilient than she had expected. Must be the stats.

Bradley was waiting when she ran inside. "Did you…"

"Watch the door!" She wanted to let her invisibility drop for a moment to show him the potion... but that was too much. "I got a healing potion."

Bradley, to his credit, didn't ask too many questions. He pulled the stone shell back and left her alone.

Mar carefully dripped a single drop onto one of the worst of the holes in her mother's flesh, and it almost disappeared completely! She slowly and steadily worked on her mother until she couldn't find any more wounds. Though her flesh still looked withered... Mar was about to try pouring some down her throat when her eyes fluttered open.

"M... mom?" Mar couldn't keep her voice from breaking as her invisibility dropped. Her mother didn't hesitate, and Mar was wrapped up in her arms before she could react. "I… I…"

"Mar! You're okay! Thank the gods you're okay!"

Mar felt her mother's tears on her shoulder, felt the strong arms holding onto her for dear life, and she broke down too.

It took some time for the tears to trail off. When they did, her mother was holding the nearly empty potion while green light flowed from the withering plants surrounding them. "Where did you get this?"

Mar didn't respond, watching as her mother's face smoothed back out and the living color returned to her flesh. The sight sent a new wave of relief through her, as well as a fresh bout of guilt... and she reached trembling fingers up to touch her face. "What... what happened?"

"It was nothing I wouldn't do a thousand times over to keep you safe."

"Mom..."

"I'm guessing this involves the fact we are in a dungeon?" she said, holding up the potion again.

So Mar told her about the dog people, and her mom immediately insisted on going to speak with them.

"But you're naked!" Mar protested.

"You think that will bother them?"

"Uh... maybe?" They had all been wearing clothes... Mar tried another tack. "Bradley is out there."

"You think it will bother him?"

"He... what!?" Mar exclaimed.

Her mother laughed at her expression and shook her head while fresh tears glistened in her eyes. "I don't care about any of that, Mar. Only you. I only care that you live. I will endure any hardship and pain to ensure that. I love you and will let nothing take you from me!"

Mar hugged her again. "I love you, too!" She tried and failed to hold back another wave of tears. But at least the second round ended faster.

Then they joined Bradley outside, and he gaped for far too long at her mother. "Stop staring!" Mar shouted while her mother laughed.

Bradley turned away, now bright red himself. "I… I was just glad to see you healed!"

"You saved Mar's life and my own, Bradley. I am eternally grateful and in your debt."

"No… no problem," he said, still blushing and refusing to look her way. He even stopped breathing when her mother touched his back, though that might have just been relief from the healing.

When they approached the dog creatures again, they all started barking and yipping at each other. Mar was worried that something had changed and gripped her remaining stone knives tightly as she started channeling her skills.

The one who she'd spoken to before stepped forward to meet them well away from the others. At least she was pretty sure it was the same one...

"Are you a Runic?" It spoke to Bradley while staring at his staff with the glowing symbol on it. They were all staring at it, in fact...

"No?" Bradley just looked confused.

"The one who made that?" It pointed at the staff. "Is that one a Runic?"

"I… I'm not sure." Bradley glanced back at them questioningly, blushed, and looked quickly away. Though he couldn't see Mar... Which was a good thing!

"Why do you wish to know this?" her mother asked.

"We seek sanctuary... please tell me, are they truly a Runic?"

Her mom watched it for a long moment before nodding. "Yes. The one who made that is indeed a Runic, and I would insist that you not share this information without his permission."

"On my life, I will not reveal the secret you have entrusted unto me," it barked, bowing low.

There was a lot more yipping, growling, and barking from the others before the leader spoke again. "If you will agree to allow me an audience with the Runic, then we are prepared to surrender without battle."

"I… think that would be okay?" Bradley glanced at her mom again, silently begging for help.

Her mother nodded. "We will need to take some precautions for this meeting..."

"That won't be necessary. You'll understand in a moment." He barked at the others and then they all howled together, with only his howl coming through in English. "We surrender."

The dogs all immediately collapsed.

All Invaders have Surrendered. Victory! Contributions Earned. Distributing Rewards. Minor Dungeon Area Protected from Targeted Invasion(04:59:59)

Rebuild. Rearm. Prepare to Defend the Dungeon.

Area Buff Earned: [Victory](04:59:59)

Bradley spoke first. "I can choose a debuff... or just kill them..."

Wasn't that what Wilson said he'd done? That would make things safer, I guess. But it felt... wrong. Especially after the potion... "Don't kill them!"

"I wasn't... just saw that it was an option..."

They eventually choose a four-hour debuff that cut their attributes almost to nothing and locked all their skills for the duration.

The creatures, who she learned called themselves Anubi, seemed happy enough with it as they headed back toward the fort.

Mar couldn't believe her mother's behavior when the woman made no attempt to hide her nakedness on the walk. Mar even suggested using the desert grasses to fashion... something. Anything!

Her mom just laughed and did a twirl with her arms out.

"Who are you?" Mar demanded. "And what did you do with my mother!?"

"You are alive!" She pulled her into a side hug and Mar had to channel her invisibility to keep it from flickering too much while the crazy woman shouted, "I am alive. We are beautiful, and I will not hide from the world!"

"Did that potion make you drunk?"

Her mom squeezed tighter and tilted her head to rest against Mar's. "Life is short, Mar. Too short. Don't let it pass you by. I love that you can hide from the terrors of this world, but don't hide from the good things, too."

She turned her head and whispered, "You know, Bradley almost reached you before me. I think he just might have a thing for you..."

Mar flushed. "W... No! He was only trying to save you. You're the one he's been staring at all the time!"

"Oh, my poor child. You are a goddess, Mar. I'm sure he would stare if he could only see you," she whispered with a smile. Then her expressions shifted into sadness. "I know you've struggled, Mar. It is all my fault. I was a foolish idiot for far too long! I only cared about the opinions of other fools, and you were the one to pay the price for my stupidity!"

"Mom..."

"I am sorry, Mar. So very sorry. I can't make it right and I don't expect or deserve forgiveness, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for my mistakes... if you will let me. If you don't hate me..."

"..." Mar couldn't find any words as so many memories boiled up in her mind. The insane rules she'd lived by... the punishments when she failed to live up to them... the loneliness... the misery and despair that had plagued so much of her childhood...

Despite all of it, one thing was clear. "I don't hate you!" Part of her wanted to. Part of her wanted to punish her mother, to make her suffer. But it was a small part, and she couldn't muster the anger after everything they'd been through. Not after seeing the pain her mother had endured to save her. It didn't make up for a childhood full of misery... but it helped. It helped a lot.

They had to stop briefly when her vision blurred with tears again, but Mar wiped them away quickly. They needed to get back... if only to get some damn clothes!

"So, which boy do you have your eye on?" Her mother whispered a minute later. The woman was incorrigible! "Lee?"

"What!?"

"He was already a bit older than you, even before... but he does have that whole powerful and mysterious vibe going strong... if that's what you..."

"Absolutely not!" Mar hissed, cheeks hot.

"Bradley is about your age, and he's looking good..."

"Mom!"

"Hmm? Maybe... is it not a boy? A girl? I won't say a thing so long as you are happy."

Mar didn't know what to think of this strange woman beside her. So much had changed since the end of the world... but this? Her mom, the socialite, the little miss everything must always be absolutely perfect, was now strolling naked through the wilderness... and talking about boys... and girls!

So Mar dropped her invisibility mid stride.

It was exhilarating. And absolutely fucking terrifying. Every second that passed left her feeling more and more exposed. She kept it off and kept walking. Even when she knew her face must be bright red.

Bradley never looked her way as he strolled smoothly ahead... but she kind of wished he...

"Bradley," her mother said loudly, and he turned.

Mar vanished with a horrifyingly unladylike squeal of protest, while her traitor of a mother said, "Don't you think Mar is absolutely stunning?"

Bradley made a lot of strange noises and turned several shades of purple and red. Then he dumped mana into the ground and propelled them all forward at a much faster pace.